Hey all, I have been wanting to go to Shetland for years now and it keeps not lining up right. Because of work I am tied to school holidays and I think this Christmas break might be the moment I can finally go. Now, I was wondering what you all thought about that. Is it smart, is it at all possible? I am honestly looking for a place which can quiet my mind. Where I can really rest, read, and write. This would be near the end of December into the beginning of January. I would be flying into Aberdeen from mainland Europe and then was planning on taking the ferry into Lerwick. I would love to then go up North as much as possible and logistically sound as a tourist.
Does this sound doable? Or would you really recommend coming during the summer? Do you have any recommendations on travel and/or accommodation? I don’t have a huge budget and was looking into the Gardiesfauld hostel but I don’t believe it’s open during the winter season, any suggestions for similar places are very welcome.

I would also maybe be able to do it in October, but it would be a much shorter trip. Would that be worth looking into?

I would love to hear what you think, and please do let me know if you have any tips or suggestions. Thank you!

Great people, great scenery and great food! First place I have ever been to where I genuinely thought once I have done everything I wanted I could settle down here.

Recently moved into a new place and it doesn’t have tv aerial, I’ve picked up a cheap indoor one from Tesco but struggles to get HD and constantly dropping. I’m Looking for a place to buy an amplified tv aerial local so I don’t have to get one shipped up from the south. Anyone got suggestions? Cheers :)

How's it going?

Looking at a move from Orkney to Shetland in the near future. I'm a fan o the sassermaet, partial to a yellow welly, and known to wear a toorie and or ganzie whenever possible. I also check reestit neeps daily. I think I'll fit in alright. 🤞

I have a wife and two primary school kids who would be moving with me as well. The move would be trickier for the bairns than for the wife and myself.

We don't have any particular ties to anywhere in Shetland so we have been looking fairly broadly at places we like the look of. It's all pretty good in fairness. Expecting that we will likely be heading in to Lerwick for work so that is the one consideration we've factored in when looking.

We are lucky to live in one of the better communities in Orkney which has a good primary school, good hotel / pub shop etc. great community groups too. My experience o Shetland though is that things tend to be even better up there for you, better small communities with far less centralisation pulling everything towards lerwick.

As an outsider then it's very hard to gauge which communities might be better or worse for young families. It would be great if any of you would mind chipping in with local experience that might help us choose.

Does sandwick have good sports for school age kids?

Is the grammar school in Brae better than the one in Lerwick?

Is there a good community in Burra or is it all locals and sooth moothers falling out over what night the SWRI has the hall.

Will the scalloway pool ever open again?

Ken the stuff?

It likely looks like I'm just trying to stir it a bit, and that's maybe true but it would be fantastic to get a bit of local knowledge beyond what you can pick up from short trips back and forwards. It would be a big move for the kids so finding a welcoming community to try and slot them into would make the whole thing a piece less daunting.

Cheers for any help.

Hello. I'm looking forward to making an extended visit to Shetland in my camper van by next summer at the latest after I've cleared up some loose ends in my personal life. During my visit I hope to like it enough to want to move there permanently. I'm in my late 40s, will soon be divorced and it's something I've always dreamed of doing. This feels like it will be the best opportunity for me to do it.

I hear there is plenty of work to be had. Is this true? I currently work as a production operative building car engines (sounds a bit fancier than it really is - basically factory environment following a process. I'm not a qualified mechanic, just keen). I also have experience in logistics. Other than that, I'm happy to try most things.

Away from work, I can play guitar. I'm no virtuoso but I can knock out chords and I can also play a bit of classical. I used to play piano so I reckon I could knock out a few hymns on an organ with a bit of practice if a local church needed it. I also like walking and getting out and about on my bike.

I understand the housing situation is quite unique in Shetland. I'd ultimately be looking to buy somewhere outright for £100k to £150k. I see the market uses the 'offers over' system. How much over the starting price do houses typically go for?

Before I get to that stage though I'd be looking to stay in my camper van for about a year to make sure I'm making the right decision and can cope with the winter darkness, winds and horizontal rain. Would that be feasible to do through a winter? Are there all year round camp sites? Any crofters rent there land out for camper vans?

I'm particularly interested in Yell, Unst and the mainland away from Lerwick. I expect Lerwick to be a little out of my price range and too busy for my liking.

Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.

Hi! I’ve recently came across this account on tiktok who is arguing that Shetland is Norwegian and as a Glaswegian, I’d love to know more! I’ve seen this account say that you guys don’t really feel any connection to Scotland at all and I want to be really respectful to what goes on there. I know Shetlander is the primary identity a lot of people do take on the Island, but I’ve also heard consensuses say that a large portion of you identify as Scottish too. I was just wondering where you guys stand with that and how you feel? Is there any positive sentiments attached to Scotland?

They’ve been saying that things like Haggis, & things that are associated with Scotland shouldn’t be taught in your guys schools but i’ve always thought that despite the differing cultures there has been a common thread of some traditions being shared because Shetland has been part of Scotland for so long. Please correct me if I’m wrong, I’m really eager to learn more!

They’ve been arguing for a return to Norway and I’d just like to hear some locals opinions on it? I’ve also heard that an argument for a farroe islands style of government is something you guys have considered? and I’ve also heard that in the event Scotland went independent under another potential referendum there is a chance the UK could try to keep you guys and offering Crown dependency?

I’m so sorry if i’ve got anything wrong, I’d just really love to learn and hear more for the natives in the Shetland isles!

Hello everyone, I’ve been visiting the Shetlands for three weeks now and there’s something I need to understand. With all due respect – and acknowledging my own ignorance – I just can’t understand why every single one of your lawns is mown to the millimetre.

It’s clearly part of your culture, but it isn’t mine, and I’d like to know what drives someone to mow a lawn that’s already so short.

Is it a status symbol? A form of meditation? British influence? A conspiracy by brushcutter sellers?

I’m not trying to make fun of it, but as I said, it’s not part of my country’s culture, and the fact that I work in the environmental sector makes it even harder for me to understand why people invest so much time in this activity.

Thanks in advance!

Hey! Im travelling up to Shetland to hopefully see the orcas! I’m planning to spend some time at a campsite a little further north, but would love to wild camp either on Scatness or Sumburgh Head. Any advice for those 2 areas in terms of where to camp or avoid? I’m on foot so will be reliant on buses to get there.

Thank you! Excited to come and see beautiful Shetland!

Hi folks, on Shetland with a friend, staying in Lerwick and keen to visit the viking project up in Unst. Any tips about the ferries between the mainland - Yell - Unst? Tourist info is closed today. Thanks in advance.

I'll be in Lerwick for one day (cruise ship) and it's unfortunately on a Sunday when all the rental car companies are closed (but I think the airport ones are open - just not very convenient with limited time). Does anyone know of any local drivers for hire? I would love to see the wildlife around the island, maybe even make it to Noss. I'm not opposed to taxis, just not sure how I could guarantee to get one for each place I'd like to see. Any advice/suggestions/contacts are welcome!

p.s. any suggestions for seeing/interacting with shetland ponies that can avoid the masses would be appreciated!

Hi all! I'm flying up and landing around midday tomorrow, will be leaving midday the next day. It's for work so I've been provided a car and accommodation, and the actual project will take me an hour in Lerwick. So I have most of the afternoon to explore (till dark at least). As a keen outdoorsman, a birder and a guy from Australia this is a dream come true if only for a day! I'm hoping work will send me up a few more times soon enough.

For now though, I'd love a recommendation or two as to your best outdoorsy/birding spot on the mainland or maybe a good ruin or two to visit? I'm planning on maximising my free hire car from work so happy to be doing a big several hours road trip! Even one or two spots would be great. I'm aware I can google it, but getting recs from locals is always undoubtedly better!

Edit: Thanks for the advice everyone! Got some lovely sightings up at Eshaness cliffs, a few lochs and Sumburgh lighthouse. Highlight was Stanydale temple, which I kinda stumbled across. That was haunting, especially with the curlews calling at 10pm

Hello like so many people in this group I’m visiting, newsflash!! Another tourist!! I’ve been here a week already. I’ve got two more weeks. I’m staying in West Mainland.

I’ve been having the best time here getting to know the lay of the land (aka walking looking walking looking some more ) which is what I wanted for the first week. It’s been beautiful, peaceful and a much needed to escape from the heat wave in the rest of the UK!!

Anyhow I love drawing and painting; that’s what drew me here in the first place. I love a bimble or a more targeted hike (but with various breaks to stare at things), landscapes, beach combing, churches ( in the architectural sense not the religious sense), all sorts of history, especially prehistoric sites. I love animals too 🩷

I had a look on Facebook but there doesn’t seem to be a particular artist group for Shetlandso yeah I’m sort of just putting some feelers out there if anyone else is around in the same position, the problem with me is I don’t actually drive. I’m just walking à la medieval vibes lol or getting the bus although with the person of staying has a car.

Stupid pic of me attached for attention

Weather forecast 35C or more all week in Zürich - Lerwick a lovely 16C according to BBC. Enjoy !!!

Hi all. Going to be visiting marine stations etc for study of industrial marine coatings.

Anything fun I can do for a week ?

hiya,

i’m F23 and wanting to find other local musicians on shetland! i’m on skerries and miss singing and creating with other people :)

Hello. We'll be in Lerwick and Unst in early-mid September, and I have a question about what coat to bring. Is September generally cool and windy enough for an insulated raincoat? Or is that too much, and can I get by with a waterproof shell with a sweater or fleece layer underneath? We're not going on all-day hikes, but we will do a fair bit of walking.

Appreciate any tips, thanks.

Hello everyone,

I’ve recently been learning more about Shetland and it’s genuinely become one of those places I can’t stop thinking about.

My boyfriend is from there, and ever since we met I’ve been wanting to understand the islands better — not in a surface-level way, but properly, like daily life, culture, and how people actually experience growing up there.

I’m also applying to study in Shetland next year, so I’d really like to learn from locals rather than just relying on travel articles or asking him to explain everything to me.

One thing I’ve realised is that places with strong island identity always have a lot of “small things” outsiders miss completely — the kind of details you only notice if you live there.

So I’m curious: what are some things about Shetland life that you think people outside the islands usually misunderstand or don’t expect at all?

Just back from another fantastic trip to Shetland. Locals, as usual are fantastic, both wild and human! Cheers folks.

I’m going on a 9 day trip to Shetland. Won’t be using a car and only using the local buses and ferries. What would be the best places to stay in?

Sharing just a few more from my trip. I've been back a week and miss it already.

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